Search

Background Scalp seborrheic dermatitis (SD) is a chronic inflammatory dermatosis associated with sebum imbalance and proliferation of Malassezia species. Various antifungal shampoos are commonly used for scalp SD. Aims Glycyrrhetinic acid is known to have antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-allergic effects. This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of a new-formula shampoo that contains glycyrrhetinic acid for the treatment of scalp SD. Patients/methods Thirty-four patients were enrolled and treated with the 6% glycyrrhetinic acid complex shampoo. Efficacy was assessed clinically with Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) and Adherent Scalp Flaking Score (ASFS) by the same dermatologist at baseline, week 2, and week 5. Among the 24 subjects with the most significant clinical improvement, four common microorganisms from scalp samples were analyzed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) at baseline, and week 5. Results The DLQI and ASFS at week 2 and week 5 improved significantly relative to baseline. The bacteria profiles showed a significant increase of Cutibacterium acnes and a decrease of Staphylococcus epidermidis at week 5. The fungi profiles showed significant decreases of both Malassezia restricta and Malassezia globosa. The ratio of C. acne to S. epidermidis increased significantly from 0.93 at baseline to 1.55 at week 5. The ratio of M. restricta to M. globosa decreased from 5.02 at baseline to 1.00 at week 5. Conclusions The effectiveness of this new regimen was objectively demonstrated at the clinical and microbiological levels. This new formula may alleviate the bacterial and fungal dysbiosis in scalp SD.

Evasion of immune surveillance is an accepted hallmark of tumor progression. The production of immune suppressive mediators by tumor cells is one of the major mechanisms of tumor immune escape. Galectin-1 (Gal-1), a pivotal immunosuppressive molecule, is expressed by many types of cancer. Tumor-secreted Gal-1 can bind to glycosylated receptors on immune cells and trigger the suppression of immune cell function in the tumor microenvironment, contributing to the immune evasion of tumors. The aim of this review is to summarize the current literature on the expression and function of Gal-1 in the human tumor microenvironment, as well as therapeutics targeting Gal-1.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a malignant tumor with a fairly poor prognosis (5-year survival of less than 50%). Using sorafenib, the only food and drug administration (FDA)-approved drug, HCC cannot be effectively treated; it can only be controlled at most for a couple of months. There is a great need to develop efficacious treatment against this debilitating disease. Glypican-3 (GPC3), a member of the glypican family that attaches to the cell surface by a glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor, is overexpressed in HCC cases and is elevated in the serum of a large proportion of patients with HCC. GPC3 expression contributes to HCC growth and metastasis. Furthermore, several different types of antibodies targeting GPC3 have been developed. The aim of this review is to summarize the current literatures on the GPC3 expression in human HCC, molecular mechanisms of GPC3 regulation and antibodies targeting GPC3.

Background The epidemic of the 2016–2017 influenza season in Taiwan started early with moderate activity and was predominated by the influenza A(H3N2) virus. However, the influenza activity increased dramatically during the late stage of the 2016–2017 season. Objectives The genetic and antigenic characteristics of the influenza A(H3N2) virus circulating in Taiwan during the 2016–2017 season were investigated. The relationship between virus clades and the patients’ 2016–2017 vaccination histories was determined. Study design Respiratory samples from patients with influenza-like illness in the community, clustered outbreaks, and inpatients with severe complications were tested for influenza virus. Influenza gene sequencing, phylogenetic analysis and hemagglutination inhibition assay were performed. Results A total of 1185, 690 and 353 cases of outpatients, inpatients and cluster events were tested positive for the A(H3N2) virus in this report. Multiple clades of the H3N2 virus co-circulated. New genetic variants were detected, including clade 3C.2a.1 with additional N121 K, K92R or T135 K mutations, 3C.2a.3a with T135 K and R150 K mutations and 3C.2a.4. The proportions of N121 K and T135 K mutations were continuously increasing. Most of the viruses (85.4%, 111/130) were antigenically related to the current vaccine strain. Infection by different clade H3N2 viruses did not correlate with immunization with the 2016–2017 vaccine. Conclusions The data in this study indicate that antigenic drift is not the primary determinant of the epidemic wave at the end of the 2016–2017 season. The fitness changes in new variants, waning immunity and climatic changes are considered as possible contributors to the resurgence of the influenza A(H3N2) virus.

Highlights • This is the first study to evaluate the suitability of the FilmArray Respiratory Panel among influenza-like illness (ILI) patients during influenza season in Taiwan. • Around 60% of ILI cases seen at the sentinel sites were not caused by influenza virus. • Using this highly sensitive assay with clinical samples is feasible and has led to an increased rate of diagnosis. • Modern diagnostic systems along with clinician prescription can help to avoid the misuse or overuse of medical resources and improve patient outcomes., Objectives To improve diagnosis as part of laboratory surveillance in Taiwan, influenza-like illness (ILI) surveillance was conducted using a new multiplex PCR assay (FilmArray) and the results compared to those of conventional methods The study was performed during the winter months. Methods Throat swabs from patients with an ILI presenting to physicians in sentinel practices were collected during the 2016–2017 influenza season. Results A total of 52 samples tested positive by FilmArray Respiratory Panel. Forty percent were influenza A virus, and subtype H3N2 virus was the major epidemic strain. However, nearly 60% of ILI cases seen at sentinel sites were caused by non-influenza pathogens. The results of the FilmArray assay and cell culture were identical, and this assay was more sensitive than a rapid influenza diagnostic test. Genetic analyses revealed new influenza A H3N2 variants belonging to a novel subclade 3C.2a2. Conclusions The FilmArray assay facilitates urgent testing and laboratory surveillance for common viral and bacterial respiratory pathogens. This study demonstrated the use of a highly sensitive assay using clinical samples that is feasible for application worldwide. This may lead to an increased rate of diagnosis of viral infections and to improved patient outcomes, and in particular to a reduction in the overuse of antibiotics and antivirals.

Melanoma is the leading cause of death from skin disease due to its propensity for metastasis. Studies have shown that integrin-mediated focal adhesion kinase (FAK) signal pathway is implicated in cell proliferation, survival and metastasis of tumor cells. Our previous results indicated that diallyl trisulfide (DATS) provided its antimelanoma activity via inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. The aim of this study was to explore DATS mediated antimetastatic effect and the corresponding mechanism in human melanoma A375 cells. We found that DATS exhibited an inhibitory effect on the abilities of migration and invasion in A375 cells under noncytotoxic concentrations analyzed by wound healing assays and Matrigel invasion chamber system. DATS attenuated invasion of A375 cells with characteristic of decreased activities and protein expressions of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9. Moreover, DATS exerted an inhibitory effect on cell adhesion of A375 cells, which is in correlation with the change in integrin signaling pathway. Results of Western blotting showed that DATS decreased the levels of several integrin subunits, including α4, α5, αv, β1, β3 and β4. Subsequently, DATS induced a strong decrease in total FAK, phosphorylated FAK Tyr-397,-576, -577, and disorganized F-actin stress fibers, resulting in a nonmigratory phenotype. These results suggest that the antimetastatic potential of DATS for human melanoma cells might be due to the disruption of integrin/FAK signaling pathway.

In Taiwan, although the coverage rate of two doses of measles-containing vaccine has been maintained at over 95% since 2001, measles outbreaks occurred in 2002, 2009, and 2011. The present study reports that 43 cases were confirmed by laboratory testing in Taiwan in 2012-2014 and that adults have emerged as one of groups susceptible to measles virus (MV) infection, who may have discrepant humoral immune reactions--indicated by the level of IgM and IgG antibodies compared to a naive, susceptible measles case. Thirty-seven of 43 cases confirmed by RT-PCR were further characterized by genotyping. In Taiwan, genotype H1 was the major strain in circulation prior to 2010, while D9 was the most frequently detected MV genotype between 2010 and 2011. The genotyping data collected between 2012 and 2014 revealed that H1 rebounded in 2012 after an absence in 2011 and was imported from China and Vietnam. In 2014, genotype B3 first appeared in Taiwan following import from the Philippines and became the most frequently detected strain. Genotype D8, linked to importation from various countries, including India, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam, showed sequence divergence. D9 was imported from Malaysia in 2014. The MV genotypes detected in Taiwan reflected the genotypes of circulating endemic measles strains in neighboring countries. A significant rise in the number of measles cases and in measles with genotypes imported from surrounding countries indicated that measles resurged in Asia in 2014.

Neuro-inflammation is implicated as a major pathogenic factor in Parkinson's disease (PD). Dietary supplements of Chlorella pyrenoidosa possess great anti-inflammatory activities, but its neuroprotective effect remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of polysaccharides from Chlorella pyrenoidosa (CPS) on motor activity, dopamine expressions, microglial activation, and peripheral immunomodulatory responses in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced mouse model of PD. The results of this study indicated that CPS reduced bradykinesia, inhibited the loss of striatal dopamine and its metabolites, and led to an increase in tyrosine hydroxylase in PD mice. In addition, CPS also suppressed the striatal Emr1 expression and tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β and IL-6 levels in serum. Furthermore, the gut immune biomarkers such as serum diamine oxidase and small intestinal secretory immunoglobulin A were enhanced by CPS treatment. These findings demonstrate that CPS has protective effect in MPTP-induced neurotoxicity in this model of PD via its immunomodulatory action.

Rubella has been listed as a mandatory notifiable disease in Taiwan since 1988. Because of high coverage rates with an effective vaccine, rubella cases have decreased dramatically in Taiwan since 1994. However, rubella outbreaks still occur due to imported transmission. Five large clusters were detected in Taiwan from 2007 to 2011. In 2007, one cluster was caused by rubella genotype 1E viruses that were imported from Vietnam, whereas another cluster was caused by genotype 2B viruses and was untraceable. In 2008, two clusters were caused by different lineages of genotype 1E viruses that were imported from Malaysia. In 2009, a cluster that was caused by genotype 2B viruses was associated with imported cases from Vietnam. The rubella viruses from 124 confirmed cases from 2005 to 2011 were characterized, and the data revealed that these viruses were distributed in the following four genotypes: 1E (n = 56), 1h (n = 1), 1j (n = 4), and 2B (n = 63). Of these viruses, 93 (75%) were associated with imported cases, and 43 of 56 genotype 1E viruses were associated with imported cases from China, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia. One genotype 1h virus was imported from Belarus, and three of four genotype 1j viruses were imported from the Philippines. Of 63 rubella genotype 2B viruses, 46 were imported from Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, China, Germany, and South Africa. Molecular surveillance allows for the differentiation of circulating rubella viruses and can be used to investigate transmission pathways, which are important to identify the interruption of endemic virus transmission. J. Med. Virol. 85:745–753, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Skin cancer is a serious concern whose incidence is increasing at an alarming rate. Allyl sulfides—i.e., sulfur metabolites in garlic oil—have been demonstrated to have anticancer activity against several cancer types, although the mechanisms underlying these effects remain enigmatic. Our previous study showed that diallyl trisulfide (DATS) is more potent than mono- and disulfides against skin cancer. DATS inhibits cell growth of human melanoma A375 cells and basal cell carcinoma (BCC) cells by increasing the levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and DNA damage and by inducing G2/M arrest, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and mitochondria-mediated apoptosis, including the caspase-dependent and -independent pathways. This short review focuses on the molecular mechanisms of garlic-derived allyl sulfides on skin cancer prevention.

Diallyl sulfide (DAS), diallyl disulfide (DADS), and diallyl trisulfide (DATS), extracted from crushed garlic by steam-distillation, have been reported to provide the anticancer activity in several cancer types. However, their mechanisms of effects on skin cancer cells remain unclear. Therefore, we used human melanoma A375 cells and basal cell carcinoma cells as the models to elucidate the effects of these three allyl sulfides. Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is known to be the most prevalent type of skin cancer, and melanoma is the most lethal form. We found that DATS revealed better growth inhibition of A375 and BCC cells than DADS and DAS did. We further demonstrated that DATS increased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, induced cytosolic Ca(2+) mobilization, and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential (DeltaPsim). Western blot results showed the concordance for the expression of molecules involved in G(2)/M arrest and apoptosis observed by cell cycle and cell viability analysis. Moreover, we detected the activation of p53 pathway in response to the oxidative DNA damage. DATS also displayed selective target of growth inhibition between skin cancer cells and normal keratinocyte HaCaT cells. Taken together, these results suggest that DATS is a potential anticancer compound for skin cancer.

In Taiwan, although the coverage rate of two doses of measles-containing vaccine has been maintained at over 95% since 2001, measles outbreaks occurred in 2002, 2009, and 2011. The present study reports that 43 cases were confirmed by laboratory testing in Taiwan in 2012-2014 and that adults have emerged as one of groups susceptible to measles virus (MV) infection, who may have discrepant humoral immune reactions--indicated by the level of IgM and IgG antibodies compared to a naïve, susceptible measles case. Thirty-seven of 43 cases confirmed by RT-PCR were further characterized by genotyping. In Taiwan, genotype H1 was the major strain in circulation prior to 2010, while D9 was the most frequently detected MV genotype between 2010 and 2011. The genotyping data collected between 2012 and 2014 revealed that H1 rebounded in 2012 after an absence in 2011 and was imported from China and Vietnam. In 2014, genotype B3 first appeared in Taiwan following import from the Philippines and became the most frequently detected strain. Genotype D8, linked to importation from various countries, including India, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam, showed sequence divergence. D9 was imported from Malaysia in 2014. The MV genotypes detected in Taiwan reflected the genotypes of circulating endemic measles strains in neighboring countries. A significant rise in the number of measles cases and in measles with genotypes imported from surrounding countries indicated that measles resurged in Asia in 2014.

Measles has been controlled effectively in some countries because of high coverage rates with an effective vaccine. However, measles outbreaks still occasionally occur in areas with high vaccine coverage as a result of imported transmission. To identify the sources of measles infection and to determine whether measles cases are part of a single outbreak or due to multiple importations, measles virus (MV) genotyping is required and plays an important role in MV elimination. In Taiwan, genotype H1 of MV was detected most frequently before 2009. From 2006 to 2011, 47 of 48 genotype H1 cases were associated with the imported cases, indicating that genotype H1 was not an endemic genotype in Taiwan after 2006. The distribution of the other genotypes (D3, D4, D5, D8, D9, and G3) detected during 2006-2011 varied by year. Taiwan has a pattern of measles genotypes that is consistent with the elimination of MV and with the absence of endemic genotypes. In this study, the genotypes of 40 cases of MV detected during 2010-2011 were investigated and analyzed. In 2010, the most common genotype changed from H1 (3/40) to D9 (35/40). In 2011, genotype H1 was not detected, and genotype D4 first appeared and was imported from Europe. The dynamic change of detected genotypes of MV in Taiwan is influenced by the activity of a measles control program in WHO regions. This study emphasizes that global synchronous elimination is important for an individual country or area to maintain free from MV.

Diallyl trisulfide (DATS), an active component of garlic oil, has attracted much attention because of its anticancer effect on several types of cancers. However, the mechanism of DATS-induced apoptosis of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is not fully understood. In the present study, we revealed that DATS-mediated dose-dependent induction of apoptosis in BCC cells was associated with intracellular reactive oxygen species accumulation and disrupted mitochondrial membrane potential. Western analysis demonstrated concordant expression of molecules involved in mitochondrial apoptosis, including DATS-associated increases in phospho-p53, proapoptotic Bax, and decreases in antiapoptotic Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl in BCC cells. Moreover, DATS induced the release of cytochrome c, apoptosis-inducing factor, and HtrA2/Omi into the cytoplasm, and activated factors downstream of caspase-dependent and caspase-independent apoptosis, including nuclear translocation of apoptotic-inducing factor and endonuclease G and the caspase cascade. These results were confirmed by pretreatment with the antioxidant N-acetyl-L-cysteine and the caspase inhibitor (z-VAD-fmk), the latter of which did not completely enhance the viability of DATS-treated BBC cells. Exposure to DATS additionally induced endogenous endoplasmic reticulum stress markers and intracellular Ca2⁺ mobilization, upregulation of Bip/GRP78 and CHOP/GADD153, and activation of caspase-4. Our findings suggest that DATS exerts chemopreventive potential via ER stress and the mitochondrial pathway in BCC cells.

Summary Objectives To study the resurgence of influenza B/Yam in Taiwan and summarize clinical findings of influenza B-associated complications among hospitalized patients, in particular the link between clinical and molecular epidemiologic characteristics. Methods Clinical information and isolates were collected through the national surveillance system of the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control. Potential risk factors associated with severe illness were analyzed. Antigenic and genetic analysis of representative hemagglutinin (HA) nucleotide sequences was performed. Results Of 326 patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), 63.2% were aged ≤18 years or ≥65 years and 12.9% were adults aged 19–49 years. Most of the cases had underlying medical conditions before admission, and more fatal cases had chronic medical conditions than those who convalesced in the ICU. Results of the phylogenetic analysis showed that the majority of isolates from fatal cases in Taiwan were in group 2 (represented by B/Massachusetts/2/2012-like) rather than group 3, which was the predominant group of strains circulating in other Asian countries. Conclusions Our findings suggest a regional trend of influenza B viruses and showed that new phylogenetic lineages and antigenic variants emerging in neighboring countries were likely to be the progenitors of the epidemic strains in the following seasons.